In most suburban communities, getting around on a bicycle and on foot is often difficult and sometimes treacherous. As a result, many people who would like to bike and walk more often tend to avoid doing so.

The good news is that we can change this.

We can create suburban communities that have high-quality, low-stress bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails that could connect you to local shops, work, school and neighboring communities.

Teaching kids bike safety has a variety of positive effects. When kids regularly practice safe cycling, the streets become safer in the communities they live and travel through.

At the high school level, when you introduce — or reinforce — bike safety, you present key skills and information at a time when young people are more likely to ride a bike for transportation instead of pure recreation.

Also, when these teenagers eventually get behind the wheel of a car, they’re more likely to treat people biking with respect and courtesy.

Yet again, a state agency is adding lanes to a busy highway with hopes of relieving traffic congestion.

This week the Illinois Tollway announced it will move forward with planning for a $4 billion expansion project on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street. It’s the latest in an alarming trend of spending billions of dollars to add capacity to major roadways in Chicagoland.

The events used everyday materials, such as duct tape, tar paper, plants and house paint to create temporary complete streets facilities – crosswalks, bicycle lanes, roundabouts and other features to slow down vehicle traffic and improve safety for people walking and bicycling.

Getting struck by a driver while she was in a crosswalk in West Suburban Maywood means that Cherrell Jackson now has trouble doing one of her favorite activities — walking.

“I will be glad when I can finally walk my grandchildren to the park,” said Cherrell (pictured here). “Now I have to get into a car to go to the park. I’m a person who likes to walk, but now walking is really hard. Going more than a few blocks, the pain is too much.”